Police: Norwich shooter says he was caught up in the chaos’

A judge in Norwich on Monday set a $165,000 bond for a Norwich man who police said admits he was “caught up in the chaos of the moment” when he fired a round into the air on the night of a deadly bar shooting on Laurel Hill Avenue.

By GREG SMITH

The Bulletin

By GREG SMITH

Posted Jul. 24, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jul 24, 2012 at 1:24 PM

By GREG SMITH

Posted Jul. 24, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jul 24, 2012 at 1:24 PM

Norwich, Conn.

A judge in Norwich on Monday set a $165,000 bond for a Norwich man who police said admits he was “caught up in the chaos of the moment” when he fired a round into the air on the night of a deadly bar shooting on Laurel Hill Avenue.

Devan Jarmon, 24, was one of two people wanted by Norwich police in connection with a June 24 shooting at the Mai Thai Restaurant and Bar. He turned himself in early Monday.

David Grant, 32, wanted for murder in the shooting death of 45-year-old Donna Richardson, is still at large. Police said Grant also shot another woman in the upper thigh.

Jarmon was wanted for firing a gun from the front parking lot of the bar and striking a home across the street with at least one bullet. A neighbor at 324 Laurel Hill Ave. told police he awoke to the sounds of screaming and yelling. As he headed downstairs, he noticed a small hole in the second-story spare bedroom and another hole in the ceiling of the hallway.

While searching the bar for evidence, police said they found a 9 mm shell casing in the front parking lot. During a neighborhood canvass, police also found a bloodied sneaker picked up and brought home by a neighborhood child. The child told police he found the sneaker in a wooded area and led police to the place he found it.

Keychain key clue

It was there, police said, that they found a keychain with several grocery store scan cards attached. Police linked Jarmon to a Stop & Shop card on the keychain.

Police caught up with Jarmon on June 27 while he was meeting with his probation officer. In an interview with Norwich police Sgt. Corey Poore, Jarmon admitted bringing a 9 mm handgun to the bar on the night of the shooting, police said.

“Jarmon stated he was in the dance floor area of Mai Thai when some people came onto the dance floor area and started yelling, ‘somebody got shot,’ ” according to the arrest warrant affidavit prepared by Officer Mark Dean.

“Jarmon stated further he got caught up in the chaos of the moment and pulled out his gun, firing one round into the air,” according to police.

As police arrived, Jarmon said he ran and tossed his gun under a car in the driveway of a nearby home. Police did not find the gun.

Norwich Superior Court Judge Hunchu Kwak said Monday he set bond based on Jarmon’s past felony criminal history, several past missed court appearances and for “the safety of the community at large.” On probation at the time of his arrest, Jarmon has a criminal history that includes several stints in prison for convictions of assault and strangulation.